Anthony sworn into office Monday

State Rep. John Anthony swears in as the representative for the 75th District.

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(CHRISTINA CHAPMAN VAN YPEREN cchapman@shawmedia.com)

State Rep. John Anthony, R-Plainfield, was sworn into office Monday evening at the Grundy County Courthouse. Anthony replaces Pam Roth, R-Morris, who moved with her family to Texas. Anthony told the crowd he knows he has big shoes to fill replacing Roth, and he will work hard to do so.

State Rep. John Anthony was sworn into office Monday evening on the steps of the Grundy County Courthouse.

“I know I have a lot of hard work ahead of me,” Anthony said in front of a crowd on the courthouse lawn. “Illinois has a lot of financial problems.

“I’m counting on all of you for your guidance and wisdom and I know in time Illinois can get back on the right track as long as we work together.”

Anthony, R-Plainfield, was chosen as the 75th District’s new state representative last week to replace Pam Roth, R-Morris, who resigned to move to Texas with her family.

After being sworn in by Grundy County Judge Sheldon Sobol, Anthony gave a brief speech. He started by thanking his family, supporters and fellow legislators, and said Roth would be greatly missed in Illinois and he had big shoes to fill.

Republican Central Committee chairmen from Grundy, Kendall, Will and LaSalle counties chose Anthony from among nine candidates who interviewed for the position.

The appointment committee conducted the interviews over seven hours. The chairmen of the district’s counties’ Republican Central Committees voted unanimously for Anthony. Roth, state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, and representatives from the Illinois House Republican Organization were also present during the interviews.

In addition to being a Kendall County Sheriff’s Office deputy since 2008, Anthony, 37, is married with four children. He and his wife, Deborah, also founded and run a nonprofit organization, the YARN Foundation, to help area children and their families with scholarships and educational programs.

Roth was not present at the swearing in Monday. Last week, she called Anthony the “best candidate from the 75th District.”

“I feel he embodies what I embody,” she said after his appointment.

Roth was a representative for the 75th District for almost three years. She was selected at the end of 2010 to fill the two-year House term opening after Rezin was appointed to replace state Sen. Gary Dahl, who retired.

Anthony was introduced by state Rep. Kay Hatcher of the 50th District. His wife and three of his four kids stood behind him in support as he was sworn in.

Rezin also was in attendance to support her new counterpart, who she said she is just starting to get to know.

“Once people get to know him, they will be thrilled,” Rezin said after the ceremony. “My main focus was we find someone who will represent the whole area and work for the district, and we have.”

Anthony is already making an effort to get to know Grundy County attending last week’s Grundy Bank Brown Bag Friday on the courthouse lawn and holding a reception after his swearing in at the Eagles Club where he invited everyone present to attend.